Justice Agboola resigns, magistrate Baldeh dismissed

Justice
Martias O. Agboola, the presiding judge at Banjul Annex in Banjul Magistrates’
Court complex has recently resigned and left for his native country(Nigeria).

Judicial
sources confirmed that the High Court judge tendered a notice of resignation to
the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) during the summer vacation and didn’t
resume work when the new Legal Year commenced in October 2017 and no reason(s)
was advanced for his resignation.

It
could be recalled that The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) filed an action against
the attorney general and Minister of Justice and the Judicial Service
Commission (JSC) over the re-appointment of Justice Martias O. Agboola, Justice
Edward E. Ogar, Justice Martins U. Okoi and Justice Simeon A. Abi.

The
GBA claimed that their appointments were not in line with the 1997 Constitution
of The Gambia and the suit seeks to challenge their appointments.

The
four Judges were among several other Judges that had their contract renewed
late 2016 for January to December 2017 but as a result of the political impasse
that gripped the country early this year, some number of the judges travelled
out of the country.

After
the political impasse, some of the judges returned to resume work but were
informed to hold on pending the swearing in of the new chief justice as the
erstwhile chief justice who facilitated their renewal resigned few days before
the former president left the country.

When
the new chief justice assumed office, the judges did not resume work as there
were reports that some members of The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) would not
appear before any of the Nigerian Judges if they are re-appointed.

Our
sources confirmed that Justice Agboola is back to his native country.

Our
sources have also confirmed the dismissal of magistrate Demba Baldeh of
Kanifing Magistrates’ Court by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

No
official reason(s) was given but the people familiar with the matter alleged
that his dismissal had to do with engaging in activities incompatible with duty
and responsibilities, impropriety, abuse of office amongst others.

Furthermore,
our sources have also confirmed the dismissal of Chief Inspector Mansajang
Jallow, a prosecutor for the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency by the
Ministry of Interior.